The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-12-23

Spending money for himself. yet fearing
she would suspect, and, knowing that she
had little with which TO carry out heP own
plans, he wisely forbore.
~ am going to the station TO meet the tan
O'Clock train, Teddy" she said, - he was
hitching Doll, land youmay meet me thsre
with the sleigh"
I" Father isn't coming home, II hei'' said
Ted, in CONSERVATION.
4" No, DEAR" replied the mother, laughing
q his alarm, 'but think there win b
somebody there. and she darted into dry
goods store, without explaining the mys-
terry.
Ted went into another store to get wsrm,
and then amused himself wandering up and
down the street, looking into the Shop win
dOws, which were gay with Christmas
goods, and thinking what he would buy il
he had the means.
He had spent fully twenty-five dollars in
this imaginary way, when he observed .
stranger come out from one Of the stores,
and walk away briskly.
He had pleasant face, and stepped OF
with the assured air Of one who Is accus-
toned to having the good things Of thus life.
It was Q warm, sunny day, and his heavy
0verc0at was thrown jauntly open, and, ~
he passed up the street he drew his hand
kerchief from an inside pocket, and blew
his nose with sOnorous blast.
3. Ted was watching all this with interest
for the mans pleasant face had pleased his
childish fancy, and ss the handkerchief
came out the boy saw another object fly out
also and lodge in the dirty snow Of the gut
ter, while the gentleman walked quickly on,
quite unaware Of his loss.
Ted's first thought was that it was only .
piece ofpaper, and it did not occur to him 70
investigate the matter, but second thOughl
sent him flying to the spot, whore, after
some little search, he found y small pack
ago wrapped in white paper and decorated
with an express label; there was evidently
Q small box within, and Ted ron rs fast -
his legs would carry him to restore it to the
owner.
That jaunty gentleman was just getting
into Q handsome sleigh as Ted turned the
corner. and Away he went.
mister, mister,' screamed Ted at the top
Of his voice, which the bells drowned, and
then began q race-Ted running for dear
life, the horses trotting along with no idea
that they were pursued.
The boys legs did him good service, how.
ever, and ut last he succeeded in attracting
the attention of the driver. 'sWhat's this,
my lad," he said, kindly. ''Want RIDER
''N-n-no," painted Teddy, all ozt Of breath,
"but you lost this, sir, and l picked it up"
and he held up the package.
swell, well, did / ever" said the gentle
man, feeling hastily in his pocket. "What .
careless trick. And 50 you've pretty near
run your legs OF to catch me, eh!'
II guess they're all whole yet, sir" re-
Piled Ted, with smile, and yet putting with
the race.
He handed over the box, while the stran-
ger took out o fat pocket-b0Ok. ''Christmas
is coming, my boy, and may be you'll like an
extra bit Of surprise money" he said, good
naturedly, % he handed out five dollar
bill to the astOnlshed child
''Oh. sir, that's too much" and Ted Of
fered it back, quite overwhelmed by such
munifcence.
swell, don't know about that" said the
gentleman, ''that box contains . watch
worth two hundred dollars, and by the time
I had advertised it and paid . reward, 1t
would have cost me double the amount, be-
sides the chances Of my finding it again, %
on the whole, think l am rewarding you
very moderately" and he buttoned his
overcoat over box and pocket-book resolute-
ly, and prepared to drive on.
A whole arena of Christmas presents
danced through Tcd's happy brain, - he
thanked the generous gentleman for his
gift, and they parted with mutual good feel
ing.
"If had such q father a. that" s0lil0-
quized the child, ''what q good boy I'd be-"
IF had an honest, bright-faced boy like
that, /" said the gentleman, "what q happy
father I'd be-"
Ted had never before kept secret from
his mother, and it was the hardest work to
keep from telling his adventure, but secrets
were flying in the air apparently and he
held on to his with true Christmas tenacity.
He had suspected by this time who was
coming on the train, and he was on time At
the station with Doll he had also wisely con-
Guided to wait q bit for her advice and as
sistance before spending his wealth.
Aunt Nan stepped of the train when it
came in, looking roster and jollier than ever,
Ted thought, as she Rugged him up close to
0cf warm lufS, ana Snc mao tnc IoCteSt
sachel and the heaviest basket he had ever
lifted.
There was a perfect jubilee Of welcome
when the party reached home, and Aunt
Nan took her namesake and little Jane into
her warm embrace, to their complete sur
prise, for they had never dreamed Of such q
happy arrival 1.-The little dears," said
Aunt Nan, as she and Mrs. Rexford made
several mysterious trips to the barn, 10
turning with contraband bundles under
their aprons, ''they shall have ore Christ
mas, if they never do another"
Such q merry-making the Rexford house
had never witnessed before. Billy Grant
had good-naturedly consented to go to the
woods and cut small evergreen, which
was conveyed to the parlor secretly, and il
il was not as brilliantly lighted and
az it might have been, it was q
wonderful tree, nevertheless, hung with
popcorn, apples and oranges and gifts, un-
til the children were nearly wild with de-
light when they saw it.
A long pail, full Of some mysterious com
pound, had been sitting in a tub in the
carelessly covered over with